Rangers, Astros Draft Paralyzed Players

Johnathan Taylor and Buddy Lamothe may never play baseball again because of injuries that left them partially paralyzed.

That didn't matter to the teams that picked them Wednesday during final day of the Major League Baseball draft.

Georgia outfielder Johnathan Taylor, a 33rd-round pick of the Texas Rangers, and San Jacinto College reliever Buddy Lamothe, the Houston Astros' 40th-round selection, were both seriously injured recently.

Taylor broke his neck in March during a game when he collided with teammate Zach Cone, the Rangers' supplemental-round pick Monday.

Texas director of amateur scouting Kip Fagg said the team's selection of Taylor was "something we felt was right."

Lamothe was injured last month in a diving accident in San Marcos, Texas.